Celebrate Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

You’ve probably seen a handful of the videos. It’s usually a groggy teenager who’s just gotten his or her wisdom teeth out. With the effects of anesthesia wearing off, it can often make for some comical and viral sound bytes. However, anesthesia is a serious medication, and it’s important that a trained professional monitors patients as they come out of a procedure. This is why a perianesthesia nurse plays a vital role in the healthcare industry. Combining extensive medical knowledge and a caring and accommodating personality, these nurses ensure that a patient wakes up from anesthesia in a safe and relaxing environment.

This week kicks off perianesthesia nurse awareness week. It is designed to bring awareness to this often-overlooked nursing specialty. Below is everything you need to know about this specialty as well as the importance of perianesthesia nurse awareness week!

Celebrate Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

Perianesthesia Nurse Duties

Like stated earlier, perianesthesia nurses have a very specific job when it comes to medical care. These nurses work with patients who are unconscious due to the use of anesthesia and care for them until after they regain consciousness. Most patients who have undergone surgery with anesthesia wake up calm. However, perianesthesia nurses must still be prepared to handle the odd cases where patients react adversely to the anesthesia. These cases can include patients regaining consciousness with emergence excitement, extreme confusion, vomiting, severe pain, or breathing problems.

These nurses will also be asked to prepare patients for the surgery. This includes educating patients on the process as well as the recovery experience after surgery. It also means that they may have to provide reassurance and advice for those who might be apprehensive about having surgery. Peranethesia Nurse Awareness Week is designed to recognize this unique specialty. It’s also created to thank those for all that they do.

Perianesthesia Nurse Education

When it comes to education for becoming a perianesthesia nurse, you’ll first need to become a licensed registered nurse (RN). While in school, you can choose to take classes that specifically work with anesthesia. It’s also a good idea to focus on how to deal with patient’s pre and post surgery. After nursing school, perianesthesia nurses can work in the field and apply for certification from the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing. This is done after completing at least 1,800 hours of direct perianesthesia work. To gain this certification, nurses must pass the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse exam (CPAN) or the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse exam (CAPA).

As the population grows older and medical technology grows more and more sophisticated, perianethesia nurses will be in high demand. Surgeries are also moving out of the confines of a traditional hospital. Instead, these will be done at private facilities, and these facilities will need perianesthesia nurses to join their staff. The employment of registered nurses in offices of physicians is projected to increase an astounding 48 percent from 2008-18, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On average, they also make $33.64 an hour, which is certainly a stellar wage. Perianethesia nurse awareness week isn’t just about recognition, it’s about encouraging you health professionals to pursue this exciting career!

Celebrate Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

Recognize Nurses

One of the best ways to celebrate perianesthesia nurse awareness week is to show some recognition for those in your unit. They’re often overlooked, so it’s important to remind them just how vital their role is in healthcare. Whether it’s a memo, a lunch, or simply a pat on the back, recognition goes a long way.

Teach Others

What’s a better way to celebrate this day than to pass on your knowledge to other future nurses? Stop in and visit your local nursing school, or even high school to show students what it’s like being a perianesthesia nurse. It’s important to cultivate a future generation of nurses, so why not start this week?

Spend Some “Me Time”

Burnout is extremely common in the healthcare industry, so it’s important that you take some time for yourself. Even if it’s just a few hours, celebrate this week by enjoying one of your hobbies. Whether it’s hitting the great outdoors for a hike, or sitting by the fire and enjoying a good book, you should give yourself some time to relax!